A POLITICAL PUZZLE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 261, 4 August 1928, Page 11

A POLITICAL PUZZLE

Sir, —I am pained that Mr. John 11. Gilmour, the D.M.l’. of U.N.Z.1’.P.0. (he will forgive 1 the abbreviation, for no Editor would consent to waste space in reproducing verbatim et literatim, the cumbrous and magniloquent titles assumed by him mid the shadow party he serves) —I say, I ain pained at the cruel manner in which he has ignored my last request. Often enough, the D.M.l’. appears to be writing of what he knows precious little about. He essays the role of prophet—but who will believe his prophecies? He delivers himself of inchoate political generalities which nobody thinks it Worth while trying to understand. Does lie understand them himself? I do not find fault with Mr. _ Gilmour for acting as claequer for this nondescript party. He is paid for doing it, and it is all in the game, but I would that lie put a little more of art into his lucubrations, if he must get them ott his chest. They are so crude in diction and thought, so absolutely devoid of any argument, that. onq. marvels why any man should waste time in such futile word-spinning. But, in my last letter, I showed the D.I’.M. how he could do a service to the public by giving inlorniation instead of the usual rhodomontadc. I wanted to know how many repudiations of allegiance U.N.Z.1’.P.0. had been made to date by gentlemen who had been announced in the Press as candidates for or supporters pl the new nebulous party. It cannot be that he ignores my request, because I used a nom-de-pl-mne, for he has replied to another letter, sighed by a nom-de-plume. Does jje ignore my question because it was awkward? . . . I am still an anxious enquirer in the matter, and if Mr. Gilmour replies to this reminder, he might at the same tunc. vouchsafe us a little enlightenment upon another little point. It is this: So tar as 1 make out, the U.N.Z.1’.P.0. candidates announced to date are preponderating!! Liberals or Nationalists. Now, Mr. Davy lias indignantly denied that he has ever turned his coat, or changed his political views. These views were until about a year ago Reform’. He is, therefore, a Reformer still, but how, In Unit case, can he justify his acting as paid trumpeter for Liberals or Nationalists? Or, lion, alternatively, can tlie Liberals or Nationalists justify the employment of an agent to boost their cause, who Hngeis with the amazing statement that he is still a Reformer?” . . .. . On the face of it, the position is farcical and ridiculous, leaving U.N.Z.I .1 facing, as Hosea Biglow puts it, North by south.” But if the D.P.M. will leave vapouring, and come down to tin tachs, we may get enlightenment on this ana other points, and we shall be grateful. Hitherto, unfortunately, we have nau from him only one farrago after another of foolish and boastful declamation but that “cuts no ice," and we are an pretty sick of it.—l am, etc., AN ANXIOUS ENQUIRER. ■Wellington, July 31.